Very high strains recorded in mylonites along the Alpine Fault, New Zealand: implications for the deep structure of plate boundary faults

Oblique displacement on the Alpine Fault, which forms the principal structure along the Australian–Pacific plate boundary in South Island, New Zealand, has resulted in exhumation of a kilometre-wide mylonite zone in the hanging wall adjacent to the current brittle fault trace. The mylonites formed under amphibolite facies conditions at depths of ca. 25 km and have been uplifted during the past 5 Ma. A suite of 65–70 Ma pegmatite veins in the hanging wall Alpine schists has been progressively deformed within the mylonite zone and sheared out over a strike length of ca. 100 km. Measurements of the thickness distribution of the pegmatite veins within the non-mylonitised schists and at three localities within the progressively strained mylonites have been used to estimate strain values within the mylonites. The thicknesses approximate a log-normal distribution, with a mean value that is progressively reduced through the protomylonites, mylonites and ultramylonites. By assuming that the thickness distribution currently observed in the schists was the same for the pegmatites within the mylonites before strain, a model of deformation incorporating simple shear and simultaneous pure shear is used to strain the undeformed veins until a fit is obtained with the strained distributions. Shear strains calculated range from 12 to 22 for the protomylonites, 120 to 200 for the mylonites and 180 to 300 for the ultramylonites, corresponding to pure shear values of 1–3 in each case. These values are compatible with the strains predicted if most of the surface displacement on the fault over the past 5 Ma were accommodated within a 1–2-km-wide mylonite zone through the middle and lower crusts. The results suggest that processes such as erosional focussing of deformation and thermal weakening may cause intense strain localisation within the lower crust, with plate boundary deformation restricted to narrow zones rather than becoming increasingly distributed over a widening shear zone with depth.     

Stratigraphic and structural expression of the lateral growth of thrust fault-propagation folds: results and implications from kinematic modelling

In order to better understand the development of thrust fault‐related folds, a 3D forward numerical model has been developed to investigate the effects that lateral slip distribution and propagation rate have on the fold geometry of pre‐ and syn‐tectonic strata. We consider a fault‐propagation fold in which the fault propagates upwards from a basal decollement and along‐strike normal to transport direction. Over a 1 Ma runtime, the fault reaches a maximum length of 10 km and accumulates a maximum displacement of 1 km. Deformation ahead of the propagating fault tip is modelled using trishear kinematics while backlimb deformation is modelled using kink‐band migration. The applicability of two different lateral slip distributions, namely linear‐taper and block‐taper, are firstly tested using a constant lateral propagation rate. A block‐taper slip distribution replicates the geometry of natural fold‐thrusts better and is then used to test the sensitivity of thrust‐fold morphology to varied propagation rates in a set of fault‐propagation folds that have identical final displacement to length (D_max/L_max) ratios. Two stratigraphic settings are considered: a model in which background sedimentation rates are high and no topography develops, and a model in which a topographic high develops above the growing fold and local erosion, transport and deposition occur. If the lateral propagation rate is rapid (or geologically instantaneous), the fault tips quickly become pinned as the fault reaches its maximum lateral extent (10 km), after which displacement accumulates. In both stratigraphic settings, this leads to strike‐parallel rotation of the syn‐tectonic strata near the fault tips; high sedimentation rates relative to rates of uplift result in along‐strike thinning over the structural high, while low sedimentation rates result in pinchout against it. In contrast, slower lateral propagation rates (i.e. up to one order of magnitude greater than slip rate) lead to the development of along‐strike growth triangles when sedimentation rates are high, whereas when sedimentation rates are low, offflap geometries result. Overall we find that the most rapid lateral propagation rates produce the most realistic geometries. In both settings, time‐equivalent units display both nongrowth and growth stratal geometries along‐strike and the transition from growth to nongrowth has the potential to delineate the time of fault/fold growth at a given location. This work highlights the importance of lateral fault‐propagation and fault tip pinning on fault and fold growth in three dimensions and the complex syn‐tectonic geometries that can result.     

STATISTICAL CONCEPTS AND THEIR APPLICATION IN PHOTOGRAMMETRY AND SURVEYING (CONTINUED)

Inner constraints, generalised matrix inverses and S-transformations are described in relation to least squares estimation of spatial positions. A simple example is used to illustrate some of the theory. The various roles and properties of covariance functions and matrices are presented with a discussion of their practical determination and use in least squares interpolation and collocation.     

Dielectric anisotropy as a petrofabric indicator

A sensitive instrument for measurement of the angular dependence of dielectric constant in a rotating rock specimen is described and the precautions necessary to obtain meaningful results are summarized. An important problem is the choice of length/diameter ratio for cylindrical specimens, so that complete three-dimensional information can be obtained from a single specimen; this ratio averages 0.86, but is found to be a function of dielectric constant and of electrode geometry. The measurements reported here have been concerned with weakly anisotropic rocks which lack visible fabrics, especially sandstones and basalts. A sandstone was used in a study of the statistical “noise” or scatter in anisotropy axes of a set of 52 similar specimens. The anisotropy was found to be much greater than expected from the finite numbers of grains in a sample. It is concluded that, in spite of careful drying of specimens, the anisotropy is dominated by thin grain coatings which have very high dielectric constants or may even be conducting. A basalt has been found in which the dielectric and magnetic anisotropies have different axes, apparently reflecting different grain alignment events in the history of the rock. However, this is the only example that has been found in which all of the information obtainable from dielectric anisotropy could not have been obtained more easily from magnetic anisotropy.     

Magnetic anisotropy and fabric of some foliated rocks from S.E. Australia

Summary The magnetic anisotropy of foliated rocks of several types has been measured by the torque-meter method, and shows that the alignment of long axes of magnetic grains in rocks normally follows the pattern of foliation evident in field observations. In a sharp fold in a lit-par-lit formation the magnetic anisotropy indicated an otherwise undetected lineation independent of the bedding and superimposed upon the foliation determined by the layering. In two adamellites, each with two alignment patterns separated by an angle of 30° the magnetic data are shown to be consistent with two foliations but not with one foliation plus a lineation. Magnetic anisotropy data can be ambiguous for rocks in which two or more grain alignment processes have operated, but combined with other observations magnetic measurements can provide a valuable new tool in the study of rock fabrics.     

Greenschist amphiboles from Haast river,New Zealand

A section across the Haast Schist Group in the Southern Alps of New Zealand shows a sequence of metamorphosed eugeosynclinal sediments. Meta-basic rocks (greenschists) have been studied to determine the nature of the actinolite-hornblende transition and to investigate the change in amphibole composition through the Metamorphic Facies Series.Electron microprobe analyses of 21 representative amphiboles, including 3 amphibole pairs can be shown to support theories of a miscibility break in the calciferous amphibole solid solution series. The existence of a miscibility break is further supported by the widespread appearance, even at low metamorphic grades, of exsolution lamellae in actinolite and hornblende amphiboles.Amphibolite facies amphiboles differ from greenschist facies amphiboles in that (a) there are increased amounts of Ti entering the lattice and (b) that there is an increased occupancy of the A site at higher metamorphic grades.     

Aspects of the mineralogy and hydrometallurgy of chrysocolla,with special reference to the Cuajone,Peru, ores

Chrysocolla in the Cuajone ores appears to be microcrystalline and to exhibit a fibrous structure.Sulphuric acid leaching of the chrysocolla is facilitated by a microcracked surface structure. A marked surface structural change is evidenced as hydrogen ions replace the copper. The end result is a noncontinuous surface layer of silica from which the copper has been essentially completely removed.The results of this study provide confirmatory evidence for the structure and hydrometallurgy of chrysocolla.